Owner Comments:
1869 50C Half Dollar
Judd-760, Pollock-845
Rarity R.7, PR65+ RB
Ex: Simpson.
Struck in copper with a reeded edge.
Obverse/Reverse: Regular die trials issue for the Seated Half Dollar.
Comment:
These pieces were deliberately struck by the Mint for sale to collectors as part of off-metal sets. Fewer than a half dozen are known today.
This GEM is the finest graded in any designation at either service. Nice tempered red fields and devices in the centers, deepening to a violet-blue at the periphery. Sharply struck and essentially flawless, this is an AMAZING looking example.
Typical of many of the Copper Regular die patterns, fewer than 7 are believed known … in fact, it appears that since 1973, the J760 appear only 10 times representing maybe 3 distinct pieces. There was no photo for the RARCOA Jan 1973 (FUN) lot 606 but it reads like of the 3 examples known and might just be one of these same pieces auctioned later? Pollock sights only 2 examples: 1 being the 1954 Farouk piece and the Melnick Nov 1982 example which I believe is this piece. In Bowers & Merena June 1991 Lot 1126 it was noted to be the Lenox Lohr example that was from Empire Coin Company in 1961. As many of the Lohr/Empire pieces were from Farouk I believe that will be the same piece.
Provenance/Appearances:
Legends Jul 29, 2022 Auction #53 / Lot #349, Ex Bob Simpson, Heritage Aug 2021 ANA/ Lot #3112;
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Herbert I. Melnick Nov 1982 (R.K. Hoffman collection) /Lot #61.
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Ira and Larry Goldberg’s May 2003 (Dr. Jacob Terner Collection) / Lot# 599 (PCGS 64RB for $6600).